The field of ancient Chinese architecture covers a wide range of structures, among them: palaces and government offices; temples, altars and ancestral halls; gardens and bridges; and city walls and residential dwellings. Many of the structural types and technologies are unique to China, or originated there and then spread to other lands. Their symbolism is distinctive as well, drawing inspiration from Chinese art, music and literature. The attention to decoration and coloration makes for intriguing and beautiful structuresùfor example, the Forbidden City, with its imposing red walls and yellow roof tiles gleaming against a blue sky. Craftsmen even exercised their imagination for everyday buildings such as stores, workshops and houses. It is easy to see why ancient Chinese architecture has been called a perfect alignment of form and function. People learn about China through a collection of symbols--Chinese painting, calligraphy, ceramics, to name but a few. This series of books aims to offer a general picture of Chinese culture, which is basic and brief but carefully selected and highly representative. They serve as a window on China for people around the world, helping them to learn about the country and to develop an interest in it. --Book Jacket.

Includes index.

Machine generated contents note:Types of Buildings -- Architectural Structures and Components -- Roof Types -- The Great Wall (Qin Dynasty) -- The Terracotta Warriors -- Han Palaces -- White Horse Temple -- Cave Temples (Yungang Grottoes and Longmen Grottoes) -- The City of Chang'an -- Daming Palace -- The Qian Tomb -- The Great Hall of Foguang Temple and Nanchan Temple -- Dayan Pagoda of Ci'en Temple -- Dule Temple -- Huayan Temple -- The Longxing Temple -- The Wood Pagoda in Ying County -- Jin Ancestral Temple -- Song Royal Gardens -- Dadu Capital City -- The White Pagoda of Miaoying Temple -- Yonglegong -- The Forbidden City -- Imperial Tombs of the Ming Dynasty -- The Temple of Heaven -- Chengde Summer Resort -- Summer Palace and Old Summer Palace -- The Eight Outlying Temples -- The Potala Palace -- Jichang Garden -- The Humble Administrator's Garden (Zhuozheng Garden) -- Ge Garden -- Shihu Garden -- Lingnan Gardens -- Royal Tombs of Qing Dynasty -- Confucius Temples -- Guozijian -- Courtyard Houses -- Jiangnan Houses -- Cave Houses -- Tulou (Earth Building) -- Pile Dwellings -- Location and Period of Construction of Existing Ancient Buildings -- Dynasties in Chinese History.